Stay living at home

We want people to stay living in their homes for as long as possible and we know that many people want to be surrounded by their possessions, near to their family and friends. This applies to anyone, whether they are older, recovering from an illness or addiction, have a physical or learning disability,

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology or Technology Enabled Care (TEC) uses a range of remote equipment matched to your personal needs. This helps to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities, enabling you to live as independently and safely as possible. The equipment can be linked to a monitoring centre, to family and friends or to other technology devices in the home. Assistive Technology is used in a variety of circumstances to help people with a broad range of needs.

Different types of Assistive Technology products can be simultaneously used in an individual’s own home to:

• Enable you to live a healthier, independent life for longer.

• Enable you to live safely at home.

• Prevent or delay unnecessary hospital or a care home admissions.

• Support you to return home from hospital or care setting where possible.

• Provide technology-based solutions to complement other community services.

Our Assistive Technology services are delivered in several ways:

• A financially competitive, private pay Assistive Technology offer is available to all people within the county. This includes Assistive Technology equipment which can be purchased and responded to by family, friends or carers. This can be arranged directly with NRS Healthcare on: 01904 221473 (option two).

• Assistive Technology can also be provided as have a mental health condition or are living with dementia. part of our reablement service for a short period of time. This will enable its appropriateness and effectiveness to be captured to plan long-term provision.

The following section gives you some information about the support available to you in your home.

• Assistive Technology can form part of your long-term support plan and Personal Budget dependent upon assessment and eligibility.

Some examples of how Assistive Technology can be used are:

• To call a monitoring centre which can keep a phone line open to you in an emergency. For example, following a serious fall.

• To alert you when temperatures in your property get too high or low. For example, if the cooker hob has been left on or if you forget to use your central heating.

• To remind you to lock your door.

• To alert family or friends if you leave your property at unusual times of the day.

• To allow you to remain independent whilst knowing that you have technology to keep you safe or to allow you to complete tasks and activities.

Assistive Technology works 24 hours a day, 365 days per year by providing real-time alerts or calls when equipment is activated.

Assistive Technology typically alerts a monitoring centre where trained operators are dedicated to this service. Operators can speak to you, will have your details and know who to call in an emergency. This could be family, friends, carers, a community response service or the emergency services if required.

For further information about Assistive Technology, or to refer for an assessment where applicable, contact our Customer Service Centre on: 0300 131 2 131 or visit: www.northyorks.gov.uk/adult-care/social-careadults/stay-your-home/assistive-technology

Alternatively, to arrange Assistive Technology privately, please contact NRS Healthcare who deliver the service in partnership with North Yorkshire Council on: 01904 221473 (option two) or visit: www.nrstelecare.co.uk/northyorkshire

Other equipment available

Occupational Therapists (OTs) and other specially trained workers can give you advice and assess your needs and those of carers.

There are many types of equipment that can help you to live independently at home. Depending on your circumstances, our Occupational Therapy service can recommend equipment that enables you to carry out daily living activities such as bathing, washing, dressing and getting around your home. It may be as simple as fitting a grab or banister rail in the right place to help you get up and down steps more safely and independently or you may need equipment to help you with getting in and out of bed or using the toilet.

North Yorkshire Council has an online self-assessment tool called ‘AskSARA’ which can identify ways of helping you with daily living activities in your home. To find out more, visit: https://northyorks.livingmadeeasy.org.uk

It is important to get the right advice and support before you buy any equipment. You will find several mobility aids and equipment providers in your local community who can discuss basic equipment with you to ensure that it meets your needs.

Medequip

Provides the Community Equipment Service commissioned by local NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and North Yorkshire Council. The service provides both health and social care equipment and includes:

• The returning and recycling of equipment. For more information, visit: www.medequip-uk.com/contact/northyorkshire

• Information and advice for North Yorkshire residents about both independent living and the Community Equipment Service.

• A self-purchase service (purchasing products before or in addition to those potentially provided by health and social services). Medequip has an online store at: www.manageathome.co.uk

• Signposting to the Disabled Living Foundation’s AskSARA website. For more information, visit: https://medequip.livingmadeeasy.org.uk

Medequip Scarborough

5B & 5C, Dunslow Court, Eastfield YO11 3XT (open 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday).

Tel: 01423 226240

Email: north.yorks@medequip-uk.com

Medequip York

Unit 3, Geralds Court, James Street YO10 3DQ (open 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday).

Tel: 01423 226240

Email: north.yorks@medequip-uk.com

Home Improvement Agencies and minor adaptations

The Home Improvement Agency handyperson service for your area provides a range of preventative services including minor jobs/ adaptations such as:

• Odd jobs – such as replacing light bulbs, securing loose carpet or putting up shelves or flat-pack furniture.

• Adaptations – providing and fitting grab rails and external handrails, fitting of second banister rails and larger jobs such as building a step to improve accessibility.

• Security – fitting window locks, security chains, key safes, doorbells and door locks.

• Help with accessing benefits or grants to fund work.

• Energy efficiency advice.

• Free access to a ‘safe traders’ list of approved contractors, helping you to avoid rogue traders.

Whether you own or rent your property, you may qualify for funding for some, or all of the adaptation work dependent on an assessment.

Yorkshire Housing Home Improvement Team

Tel: 0345 366 4406

Web: www.yorkshirehousing.co.uk (search ‘adaptations’).

Major adaptations

If you have difficulty accessing areas within your home, have a permanent or long-term health condition and need an adaptation to help you stay independent, you may be eligible for a grant (called a Disabled Facilities Grant).

The grant is assessed according to your needs and circumstances. Following a financial assessment, you may qualify whether you are a homeowner or a tenant. However, if you are eligible for funding through a Disabled Facilities Grant, you may still have to pay a contribution towards the cost of the adaptation/s.

Disabled Facilities Grant adaptations are only provided to meet an assessed need when the local authority deems the work as ‘necessary and appropriate’.

www.myfamilyourneeds.co.uk

For parents and carers of children with additional needs and those who support them.

White Rose Home Improvement Agency

For all Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale areas. Tel: 01723 232323

Further information about Disabled Facilities Grants can be found at: www.foundations.uk.com

Your local Home Improvement Agency

Each Home Improvement Agency in North Yorkshire provides a technical service to support people with their Disabled Facilities Grant. This includes drawing and submitting plans, building regulation applications, obtaining quotes, overseeing work, ensuring it is completed to the required standard and that it is ‘reasonable and practicable’. The Home Improvement Agency can carry out the work and or support the approved contractor/s.

For more information about DFGs where you live, visit www.northyorks.gov.uk and search ‘Disabled Facilities Grants’.